Big Business and Organized Labor Chapter 18, Section 2
Big business changed the workplace and give rise to labor unions. In the late 1800s, businesses expanded, factories cranked out goods, and profits soared. However, while big business thrived, many workers including children suffered.
The business boom of the late 1800s was led by bold entrepreneurs who found new ways of building businesses. To succeed, new businesses need capital. Many entrepreneurs raised the capital they needed by forming corporations.
Corporations sell stock to stockholders for cash. Stockholders Stock Certificate Money Money In return for their investments, stockholders receive part of the corporation s profits and choose its directors.
In addition to selling stock, corporations raise capital by borrowing money from banks. Corporation Bank Money Bankers such as J. P. Morgan lent businesses so much money that they gained control of major industries.
With the government taking a hands-off approach, entrepreneurs built their corporations into giant monopolies. Entrepreneur Business Andrew Carnegie Carnegie Steel Company John D. Rockefeller Standard Oil Trust
Rockefeller was the first to combine several corporations into an even bigger business a trust. Trusts soon dominated key industries, crushing competitors by slashing prices. trusts small businesses
Many Americans criticized the trusts. Business leaders are robber barons. Threaten free enterprise Unfairly eliminate competition Use wealth to influence politics
Others, however, thought trusts were good for the country. Business leaders are captains of industry. Build up the economy Create jobs Lower prices for consumers Are fittest and deserve to survive
The theory of Social Darwinism was often used to support big business. According to Charles Darwin, plants and animals survive by adapting to change and competing with others. Business leaders claimed that they also had to ruthlessly compete in order to survive. Business leaders used Social Darwinism to justify horrible working conditions.
Men, women, and children worked in dangerous conditions in mills, factories, coal mines, and sweatshops. Hours were long and pay was low.
A terrible fire in a New York sweatshop shocked the nation and drew attention to the unsafe conditions many workers faced. Doors were locked at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory to keep workers at their jobs. Trapped inside, nearly 150 people, mostly young women, died.
Many workers believed they could improve working conditions by organizing unions. Working together, members of a union could protest unsafe conditions and demand improvements. Early attempts to form unions, however, met with fierce resistance. Laws made it illegal to strike. Companies hired guards to attack union workers.
A union called the Knights of Labor began as a small group, meeting in secret. Its ranks grew after a series of rallies inviting all workers skilled and unskilled to join. A violent clash between striking workers and police, however, cost the Knights much of their support. Haymarket Riot
In 1886, Samuel Gompers formed a new union called the American Federation of Labor. The AFL quickly became the leading union in the country. Included only skilled workers, who were of more value to businesses Worked for improvements through collective bargaining
In 1893, a depression hit the nation. Despite union efforts, many businesses fired workers and cut wages. A series of violent strikes swept the country. A strike at a plant owned by George Pullman shut down the railroads and ended when troops fired on protestors.
Many Americans blamed the unions for such violent unrest. In time, however, unions would win public support. As membership climbed, unions became an important force in American business.